Is Aluminium Cookware Safe?

Aluminium is often lauded for its exceptional heat conductivity and is a very popular choice for both amateur and professional chefs and yet, one question often comes up - is aluminium cookware safe? For decades, people have been raising concerns about the potentially negative effects of aluminium. So, are these concerns warranted or not? Are they founded or just myths?

In this article, we'll delve deep into the potential risks associated with aluminium cookware, how some concerns came about, and offer insights into safe usage practices. Yet, before we get to that, let’s quickly discuss some general characteristics of aluminium cookware. 

The Properties of Aluminium Cookware

Aluminium is often counted among the best cookware materials as it boasts remarkable heat conductivity that surpasses many other metals, including stainless steel and cast iron. This quality ensures swift and uniform heating, guaranteeing thorough cooking throughout the meal. The ability to distribute heat evenly reduces the likelihood of hot spots, which can cause uneven cooking. 

Moreover, aluminium pots and pans swiftly adjust to temperature changes, allowing you to be flexible in your cooking. Their lightweight nature also adds to their appeal, as they are easy to manoeuvre during culinary tasks. In addition to the practical cooking aspects, possibly the most important factor contributing to the popularity of aluminium cookware is the price - affordability sets it apart from other materials, making it a practical choice for many consumers.

Now, those are the positives, but what are the risks? Is aluminium cookware safe?

What Are the Dangers Associated with Aluminium Cookware?

First and foremost, aluminium cookware is considered to be safe for everyday and continuous use. The risks associated all have to do with aluminium leaching. When cooking with aluminium, particularly with acidic foods such as vinegar, tomatoes, or lime, a reaction occurs that causes aluminium ions to dissolve into the food. 

While most branded aluminium cookware boasts non-leaching features, it's important to acknowledge that they may still react with acidic foods if used excessively. This can result in an excess of aluminium in the food, potentially leading to health issues in our bodies. However, it's just as important to note that the amount of aluminium that leaches into food from aluminium cookware is typically minimal and deemed safe for most individuals. 

On top of that, your body can efficiently process small quantities of aluminium, eliminating it naturally through urine without causing any harm. Nevertheless, individuals with specific health conditions, such as kidney problems, may need to limit their exposure to aluminium if they are advised so by medical professionals, but, in total, aluminium cookware is safe for most people.

What About the Connection Between Aluminium and Alzheimers?

We are stating that aluminium cookware is safe, but there is a widespread claim you may have heard that aluminium cookware is connected to Alzheimer's; this claim even has a name, the Aluminium Hypothesis. However, medical research has debunked the Aluminium Hypothesis. 

It was all started by a 1965 US demonstration done by Wisniewski, Terry, and Klatzo, wherein they found that injecting rabbits with aluminium salts produced changes in the brain that resembled the changes caused by Alzheimer’s (as a side note, this is not what they set out to prove but was discovered by accident).

However, later studies, some done by those same researchers, showed that the connection only appeared to exist and that aluminium does not cause the same or similar brain changes as Alzheimer’s disease does. To settle the matter, one of the leading authorities on Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association, has clearly stated that ‘...studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s.’

Another Possible Source of Fear - Teflon

One other reason people may be fearful of aluminium cookware is if they associate it with Teflon. Of course, aluminium and Teflon are two totally separate materials, but aluminium cookware can be coated with Teflon. Teflon is a common name for the material polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a synthetic chemical created in the 1930s.

Cookware coated in Teflon has a non-stick and non-reactive surface, making it easy to cook in and clean afterwards, which made it very popular. However, in earlier years, Teflon was made from PTFE and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); PFOA is associated with certain diseases, like thyroid, kidney, and liver disorders and even cancer.  

Although the amount of PFOA in Teflon should have been minimal as most was burnt off during the manufacturing process, Teflon cookware has not used PFOA since 2013, eliminating that risk. In general, the issues you could run into with Teflon-coated cookware nowadays is if you cook at over 260 degrees Celsius.

At over 260 degrees, Teflon coating can start to break down and release toxic fumes, causing symptoms such as a fever and a headache. That being said, Teflon is still considered a safe compound and, more importantly to our topic, aluminium cookware does not have to be coated in Teflon to be non-stick.

To Err on the Side of Caution

We hope we’ve answered whether aluminium cookware is safe, but if you still have some concerns, some basic precautions can minimise all risks. For one, don’t use Teflon-coated aluminium cookware if that is what you are concerned about. Then, if you are concerned about aluminium leaching, you can do two simple things.

First, avoid cooking highly acidic foods for long periods of time. Second, use anodised aluminium cookware - anodised aluminium undergoes an electrochemical process known as anodisation, which enhances the natural oxide layer on its surface. Through this process, the oxide layer becomes thicker, giving it greater durability and resistance to corrosion and wear. 

In simpler terms, anodisation reinforces the aluminium, reducing the likelihood of reactions with acidic foods that can result in leaching and enhancing the resistance of aluminium cookware to scratches, abrasion, and higher temperatures compared to non-anodised aluminium. With these tips, we hope you can feel safe when you use aluminium cookware.

Where Can You Get High-Quality Cookware?

This article was supposed to answer the question - is aluminium cookware safe? - and we hope we’ve done just that. Now, if you wish to get new cookware for your home, AGC Equipment can help you out. Our collection of high-quality yet affordable aluminium cookware includes all types of pots and pans, so simply place your order online and we will ship it to your address.

In case you are looking for another type of material, we also have cast iron cookware and stainless steel cookware of the same high quality, and even specialised items like Chinese woks and paella dishes. So find what you need and get what you need for your kitchen. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact us, we will gladly assist you in any way we can.